Surveillance cameras inside the pet shop showed a man and a woman believed to be his girlfriend take the dog before the man disappeared into the store's restroom, apparently passing the pup through a window.

Aversa and his employees circulated images of the suspects in hopes of finding it, and offered up a $1,000 reward for the dog's return. Reached by phone Friday, Aversa said he was relieved to have the dog back just in time — Blackie came back a pound and a half underweight.

"The vet's going to keep him right now because he's severely dehydrated," he said.